Paycheck Calculator
Turn gross pay into an estimate of what lands in your bank account, using the 2026 federal tax brackets and payroll tax rates.
| Take-home pay per paycheck | $1,863.85 |
|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,500.00 |
| Federal income tax | $201.15 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $155.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $36.25 |
| State income tax (estimate) | $118.75 |
| Pre-tax deductions | $125.00 |
| Take-home pay per year | $48,460.00 |
| Effective federal income tax rate | 8.05% |
How to use it
- Enter your gross pay for one paycheck and how often you are paid.
- Pick your filing status.
- Enter 401(k) or 403(b) contributions taken before tax, per paycheck.
- Enter a rough state income tax rate, or 0 if your state has none.
Formula
- Yearly taxable income = gross × paychecks − pre-tax deductions × paychecks − standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 joint for 2026)
- Federal tax: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, 37% on each slice of taxable income (2026 brackets), ÷ paychecks
Social Security = 6.2% of wages up to $184,500; Medicare = 1.45% (+0.9% over $200,000)Take-home = gross − pre-tax deductions − federal − Social Security − Medicare − state
Example
A single filer paid $2,500 every two weeks earns $65,000 a year. After $3,250 of 401(k) and the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $45,650: 10% of $12,400 plus 12% of $33,250 = $5,230, or $201.15 a paycheck. Social Security is $155.00, Medicare $36.25 and 5% state tax on $2,375 is $118.75, leaving $1,863.85.
Questions
Why doesn't this match my pay stub exactly?
Employers withhold using IRS Publication 15-T and your W-4, which can differ from your actual tax. This estimates the tax you owe for the year, spread evenly, and treats state tax as one flat rate.
Where do the 2026 numbers come from?
The brackets and standard deduction are from the IRS's 2026 inflation adjustments (Revenue Procedure 2025-32). The Social Security wage base and Medicare rates are from IRS Publication 15 (2026).
Do health insurance premiums lower my taxes?
Usually yes, and they also skip Social Security and Medicare. This page doesn't model that; add them to the pre-tax box for a close income tax estimate.
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Last reviewed 2026-10-11. Found a mistake? Tell us.